Help! Moving to Melbourne, Australia

[maryhadalittleann]

Hi! My husband's job is taking us to Melbourne, Australia in six months. I'm a US citizen and got my nursing license in California. The good news is my husband's work is taking care of my visa, so that's one less thing to worry about. I've worked as a nurse for 2 years in a Geri med surg unit in California at a really great hospital and have over 6 years hospital experience. I have some questions for nurses that have moved to Australia and would love any advice. (Not moving to Australia is not an option for us).

1. Do I just need to fill out the form on the Australian nursing board website? Submit requested documents, then show up in person to do the skills portion? http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/documents/default.aspx?record=WD11%2f5938%5Bv8%5D&dbid=AP&chksum=wXgLjFCDoknB6SdLbWeZDA%3d%3d

2. What is the work environment like for a nurse?

3. Do they use electronic charting?

4. Do we have to mix our on IV antibiotics and do RT treatments (read this on an old post)?

5. What were some things you wished you had studied or prepared for to assimilate better to be a nurse in Australia?

6. On an off topic has anyone taken their dog, we are moving there for at least 2 years maybe more not taken our fur baby is out of the question, we're way too attached to him.

Thank you to to everyone who responds, this is an exciting adventure for us. I love nursing and want to continue my nursing practice. :)

[YeXinZhi, BSN, RN]

I don't think there is a skills portion of the registration process unless AHPRA requires you to sit a bridging program.

Nursing in Australia - generally RNs do holistic work, meaning you do all hygiene cares on top of the usual clinical stuff. From what I can gather reading the foeums, Aussie RNs have more autonomy in terms of practice than US RNs.

Not sure about electronic charting but where I worked in Brisbane, we didn't use e-charting.

We mix our own IVABs. Australia does not have RTs. Stuff like ABGs is done by doctors. DBE and other pulmonary exercises are initiated and done by PTs.

Australia uses a different laboratory reference values. For example, we use mmol instead of mg/dL for capillary blood glucose. You might want to read up on that.

Australia has strict rules regarding the import of animals from other countries. It is a tedious process that involves a lot of time, money, and effort. The one-way cost of sending your dog over would cost significantly more than a round trip ticket for a human being. Your dog will also need to be quarantined for at least 10 days from the date of arrival in Aus. However, if You're patient enough it shouldnt be a problem.

[maryhadalittleann]

Thank you for your reply. Almost all hospitals in my city uses electronic charting so that's certainly going to be an adjustment. Do you guys work twelve hour shifts?

[YeXinZhi, BSN, RN]

I think some states and hospitals are transitioning towards electronic charting.

12-hour shifts are the exception, not the norm in Australia. Areas like ICU and ED do 12 hour shifts but not medical or surgical areas (not normally).

[maryhadalittleann]

Okay, thank you for your responses. Just wondering are Australian nurses friendly to American nurses? I read in some posts that they tend to look down on American nurses is this true?